The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1887-01-20
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 18th. 1886.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18th, 1886. |
The iorty -ninth is an industrial con-
gress, Notwithstanding the fact that
charges of Incidence have been heaped
upon 1t. 1t is a real pity that the coun-
try has to part with it so soon, and it is
one of the worst faults OF our legisla-
tive system that about the time one
congress gets fairly down to business
another steps into its place and wastes
year or more in getting a good |
start.
The most important legislation of the |
week, so far, is that creating depart
ment of agriculture and labor, and
that against the Mormons of Utah.
There will be secretary OF agriculture,
who will of course, be a cabinet of
ficer, If the senate agrees to this change
and it was voted for in the house oil
representatives by such large majori-
ty as to leave little doubt OF its pOpu-
larity.
/ Commissioner Coleman, the incum-
bent under the new administration, has
more than any OF his predecessors sue
eeeded in impressing upon the public
mind the importance of this depart
ment and Its capacity for usefulness.
The legislation just accomplished may
be partly considered, therefore, in the
, nature Of . compliment to his efficient
management, and the president In
looking aboutfor new member of his
cabinet will have little difficulty in
finding the right man.
: The passage OF the bill elevating the
] agricultural department to executive
: importance, was very appropriate
celebration OF the Farmers congress
now in session in Washington at the
) agricultural department. The farmers
: have been discussing the proposed in
: terstate commerce bill, SO long pend
e ing in the senate, and majority of
them favor federal interference for
the protection OF the people. A lively
debate was provoked relative to the
long and short haul section, and dele
8 gates from the north and south were
r opposed to eacn other as to the policy
: which should prevail. The debate took
4 very wide range, but one sentiment
= was uppermost with all, and that was
that an Interstate commerce bill was g
S national necessity.
# The most notable debate of the weel
H in congress was that over the anti-po-
i lygamy Dill. Delegate Caine, as the rep
II resentatlve o: the MormOns, was atten-
II lively listened to first, while he made
: long argument in behalf of his PEG.
l. pie. He sketched the settlement o.
?! Utah by the Mormons, depicted th,
v persecution to which they had beer
:, subjected and eulogized them for theil
} industry, Intelligence and honesty. HI
appealed to the house to consider wei
before 1t assented to the proposition
contained in the bill. He said relioi-
MormOns; political neressity. cant. nv
!, pocrsy, and all kindred Pecksniffian
- ism Joined in the hue and cry, Base
less calumnies, SANDER and unmitiga
st ted falsehOods We're constantly dissem
mated through the platform, the pul
pit and the press, these mighty engine
l. for the manufacture of public senti
ment.
A. Mr.. Caine insisted that time. tn
o corrector of all evils. would RICH
20 wrong, If wrong it were; that the fla
OF the Eternal had already declare,
lie that the last vestige of Mormonisn
% shall be swept away by the peaceful
. progress of events il it is not fit to sur
yive. He closed with plea to the mel
ii who had freed the negro slave iron
al bondage, who loved liberty and cher
Il ished the institutions of our country
that they would not consign his con
stituents to inhuman slavery.
ID Representative Bennett of Nortl
n Carolina also believed that the Nor
a mon problem would resolve itself
e would yield to patient treatment at tn
hands of the American people Tn
ri bill, he said, did violence to the basi
.s principles of American government.
nthora uyoro 6ra into ha dfcn,,n
sion, and Hon. Randolph Tucker o
n not care what a Mormon believed, Blu
o iufrjnged the rights of any other man
Polygamy was crime by every stat
in christenuom. Every since Chris
re interpreted the Judaic law and CAV
. out Therefore shall a man leave ia
ther and mother and cleave unto hi
wife and they twain"-they twain
"and not a whole bandle-ever sine
Is Christ uttered that sentiment. al
: christian nations had adopted nonoga
% N.Y."
~ "What is congress to do?' continued
= Mr.. Tucker. sThe gentleman from
Utah said, swat, if we are wrong, W,
If will sink.' 'sBut the government
,O wants OtAn as ouC VI TIC etdtCs III Gu
- Union. 1t did not come in be-
l, cause it had 10000 Mormons VIII,
IS would establish polygamy as one o
the institutions OF that state. 1t wa
! the duty of congress to prepare Utal
:, y for the union, and the way to do it was
q to extirpate that which was alien to th,
e genius OF our institutions The time
g for a vote had come, and Representa-.
tive Scott OF Pennsylvania here asks {
leave to offer an amendment to thu
= bill. But Mr.. Tucker said mo ] coulG
n not permit this. l want to pass the
!! bill now so that the 18th of Januar,
4 will be memorable In the history of the
country"